Author Archives: Ellen

Back to School Hodgepodge

This collage above is from a first day of school in Ventura, California back in 1985 and a first day of school in Bothell, Washington in the very early 90’s.

Jo From This Side of the Pond asks the questions and here are my answers this week. Thank you, Jo!

1. As we begin this brand new month tell us, on a scale of 1-10, where does your life fall in terms of being in ‘apple pie order’? Please elaborate. (1=nowhere near it, 10=practically perfect in every way)

Yikes, perfect and neatness. That’s a tall order. The only thing I’ll attribute to perfection in my life is that I am perfectly forgiven and saved by Jesus Christ my Perfect Savior and Lord. I’m thankful for that position in this life and for what it means in the next. On a physical not spiritual level I’d say I’m about a 6. Most places in our home are tidy enough for surprise drop ins. I’d need a couple days notice to get everything perfect in every way! Outside in my flower beds, etc. I’d need a month to get things perfect!!

2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away…are you doing your part?

Not an apple but our new daily regimen since the Ch*na V started it’s spread is a multi-vitamin, vitamin D3, vitamin C, Zinc, Quercetin, and we just added N-Acetyl Cysteine.

Red or green?

Either.

Sweet or tart?

Like them both.

Ever played the game Apples to Apples?

Yes.

Do you like apple pie?

Yes.

If so, ala mode or just gimme the pie? 

As my dear old Pop used to say he’d like his “pie alamo”

3. Tell us about a time recently where you ‘upset the apple cart’ or the last time someone ‘upset your apple cart’? 

A good true quote is something that ‘upsets my apple cart’ in a constructive way.  Here’s one that makes me ponder, “Nothing is more deceitful than pride. We are inclined to believe anything about ourselves if it is favorable.” From a commentary on 1 Corinthians.

And from Spurgeon: “My own weakness makes me shrink, but God’s promise makes me brave. Lord, strengthen me according to Your Word.”

4. What are three words that come to mind when you think of September? 

School because traditionally school started in September. Birthday because Dear’s birthday is in September. Fall/Autumn because this great season of the year starts in September.

5. What are you most looking forward to this month? 

Our road trip to North Carolina and Dallas. Those are the two destinations in our 20 day trek that involve seeing some of our loved ones! Technically we won’t be in Dallas until October.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Goodbye August

Straight from the garden. Their mommy plants and tends an amazing garden.

We were able to see these two on Sunday afternoon. So good to have them run to us with open arms and lots of hugs. As we leave they run along the fence line following our car and we yell our goodbyes to each other. They are safe on the inside of the fence and our car goes along the drive on the other side of the fence. Fun traditions.

Adios to August!

Weekend Wrap-up

The little ones are camouflaged and so cute!

They keep coming back for visits and we can see that they have grown.

Not the clearest photos of the little ones. I have to take the photos from the inside through glass without moving much or they all fly away.

On Saturday we mowed and weed wacked. We were in the 80’s over the weekend and this coming week we have a mix of 80’s and 70’s. On Sunday we drove to Spokane to pick up my glasses. No prescription except for a bifocal section for reading. I am a happy camper. No shifting back and forth to readers and that is my preference.

We are still in prayer about the disaster in Afghanistan, aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, and for those in the path of Ida.

We are studying 2 Timothy and listening to expository preaching (John MacArthur) while mowing and driving back and forth to Spokane. This last letter by the Apostle Paul to his beloved Timothy is so rich. This resource, Grace to You, is one where you can access expository preaching on every book of the Bible. Dear and I highly recommend it.

2 Timothy 2:15

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:14-17

14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Hoping for a week with some good news for all of us.

I Know Whom I Have Believed ~ Hymn

I Know Whom I Have Believed

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain

But I know whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

Refrain

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing us of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

Refrain

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

Refrain

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

Refrain

Words: Daniel W. Whittle, 1883.

Dress Blues

On August 17th while we were in Spokane we stopped by The Sherwin Williams paint store and bought a quart of paint for our doors. We were tired of the maroonish look. We chose Dress Blues because we liked the color and the name. Our son-in-law Andrew wore his Dress Blues for the wedding ceremony we had for he and our daughter Katie in March of 2012.

–

We love the color. Dear finished painting the door on the day that eleven of our Marines were killed in Afghanistan by the suicide bomber. This door takes on more meaning for us. We are heartbroken for the families who will soon be notified. 24 hours after the families are notified we will learn the names of these Marines. What a devastating week in our history. We continue to mourn and hope for all the stranded Americans and others waiting to be safely airlifted out of Afghanistan. We mourn for what America has become to the world. My hope is not in our country or our leaders, my hope is in the God who made heaven and earth and everything in it. It’s a good time in history to make sure of your eternal destination. There are only two choices, with Christ in heaven or without Christ in hell.

2 Thessalonians 2:16:

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 

 

Oatmeal Muffins

These muffins are easy to make and they aren’t overly sweet. Enjoy them any time of the day.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup quick cooking oats
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 well beaten egg
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Combine the oats with the milk and let stand for 15 minutes.
  3. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
  4. Combine the beaten egg, oil, sugar and oatmeal mixture.
  5. Add all at once to the sifted dry ingredients stirring just to moisten.
  6. Fill greased muffin pans 2/3 full. I used muffin cup liners.
  7. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

Yield: 12 muffins.

Summertime Bible Verse Challenge

Today is our finale for the Summertime Bible Verse Challenge. Thank you to all who participated by leaving a verse or verses to be added to the challenge. It was a good exercise.

I’m sharing a verse from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament today.

Jeremiah 14:14

14 And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.

2 Timothy 4:1-5

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

From Cheryl:

Revelation 12:10-12

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

From Vera:

Habakkuk‬ ‭3:17-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”

From Barbara:

Psalm 93:4

But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
mightier than the breakers on the shore —
the LORD above is mightier than these!
From HappyOne:
Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

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Old School Hodgepodge

Thank you Jo From This Side of the Pond for asking the Hodgepodge questions for us.

It’s always so wonderful to see all the little quail show up with their parents. They are hard to capture with the camera through the windows. They react to any slight movement and they move a lot.

1. Is school back in session where you live? Is everyone in person or does your system still offer a virtual option? Are kids wearing masks? 

School starts August 31st here in Colville. As of yesterday, Washington State is back to requiring face masks indoors for all people 5 years and up so school aged kids are required to mask up.

2. Something you still do ‘old school’? 
~
I asked this out loud while Dear and I were sitting at our desks in our office. His answer was “Go to Church”. Then he said “Believe the Bible”. I’ll say keep a paper calendar. I still have calendars around the house and in my purse.
3. One lesson you’ve learned in the ‘school of life’? 
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God is in charge and I am not. This is an ongoing lesson in my life.
4. When you were in school did you pack a lunch or buy a lunch? Your favorite thing to see on the lunch menu or inside your lunchbox back in the day? 
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Our mother packed lunch for each one of us everyday and she also made breakfast for us before we headed off to school. In the 6th grade I was a student cafeteria worker and I got a free hot lunch everyday. I loved the fresh rolls those cafeteria ladies baked. I can almost smell the aroma of them coming from the ovens.
When our sons were in high school and I made cold cut sandwiches for them on sandwich rolls I found out they were able to sell those home made sandwiches to their friends for $5!
5. August is National Family Fun Month. Tell me something fun you’ve done this month.
~ 
Any day we spend with our grand kids is a fun day. August was less active around here because of smoke and fires but we’ll make up for it in September!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
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Today, August 25th is our son Josh and our Laura’s 20th wedding anniversary! We could not have asked for a better helpmate for our son. They make the best team. Those who are fortunate to be part of their lives and generosity will all give a hearty amen to my assessment.
2013-09-16 Alton to Cotswolds20
Happy 20th Anniversary Josh and Laura! Wish we could be celebrating in Jolly Old England. We love you individually and together. May God give you many more years growing closer to each other and to HIM!
The photo above was taken in Wells, England while we were traveling with Josh and Laura in 2013. We would all love to return someday to visit.